Michael M. LaPlante
Partner
Michael LaPlante has helped guide and develop LaPlante, Merritt, Faulkner & Clay, LLC, into one of the largest Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, Criminal Defense and Family Law practices in Northeast Alabama. He has an excellent reputation as a litigator and has successfully represented many clients in Bankruptcy, Criminal and Family Court.
LaPlante, who graduated Top 5 in his class from Birmingham School of Law, has a unique background as a former Division I basketball coach. He was an assistant coach at Yale, Maine and Auburn before becoming the Head Coach at Jacksonville State in 2000. He also has worked for ESPN as a talent evaluator for the Southeast prior to graduating law school.
He is very active in the community and presently serves as the Chairman of the RMC Hospital Foundation Board. Mike is also a member of Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, American Association of Justice, Calhoun-Cleburne County Bar Association, and is a representative on the Indigent Defense Committee for Calhoun and Cleburne Counties.
Birmingham School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2012; University of Maine, Bachelor of Science – Education, with Honors, 1989.
Practice Areas:
Bankruptcy
Personal Injury
Family Law
Criminal Law
DUIs
L. Dustin Merritt
partner
Dustin Merritt is a founding partner of LaPlante, Merritt, Faulkner & Clay, LLC, and is a graduate of Weaver High School. Dustin attended The University of Alabama for his undergraduate degree, and earned his law degree from Liberty University where he was a dean's scholarship recipient. While in law school, he served on the Alternative Dispute Resolution board and was a member of the Criminal Law Society.
Practice Areas:
Family Law
Personal Injury
Probate and Estate Planning
Social Security Disability
Bankruptcy
Juvenile Dependency
Guardian Ad Litem
Daniel K. Faulkner
Partner
Daniel Faulkner was born and raised in Calhoun County, Alabama, and is a graduate of White Plains High School. In 2009, he received his bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama where he studied business and psychology. Following undergraduate, Daniel enrolled at Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Alabama.
While in law school, he interned with 7th Judicial Circuit Judge Debra Jones where he gained first hand knowledge of the legal processes. Also, Daniel participated in a mediation clinic where he mediated cases at Montgomery County District Court and Autauga County District Court in order to assist individuals with settling their legal issues without a costly trial.
Practice Areas:
Personal Injury
Criminal Law
DUIs
Family Law
Probate and Estate Planning
Juvenile Dependency
Juvenile Delinquency
Guardian Ad Litem
Adult Protective Services
William S. Clay
partner
Will Clay is a Calhoun County native and a graduate of Oxford High School. Will went on to study as an undergraduate at The University of Alabama and, in 2006, he received his bachelor's degree in small business management with a minor in philosophy. Following his bachelor's degree, Will didn't have to go far to begin law school as he was accepted into The University of Alabama School of Law. While in law school, Will helped found the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review. Still active today, the law review is dedicated to a never ending march toward equality. In 2009, Will received his Juris Doctor from The University of Alabama School of Law and was admitted to the Alabama State Bar Association.
Practice Areas:
Criminal Law
DUIs
Family Law
Personal Injury
Adult Protective Services
Juvenile Dependency
Juvenile Delinquency
Guardian Ad Litem
LLCs
Justin C. Wilson
PARTNER
Justin Wilson has quickly established himself as one of the top young attorneys in Northeast Alabama. Born and raised in Calhoun County, Alabama, Justin is a graduate of Oxford High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in 2013 where he studied Economics. He graduated from Auburn cum laude. While at Auburn, Justin was a member of the Auburn Economics Club, Tau Sigma Honor Society and Auburn University’s Honor Society for Pre-Law Scholars, Pi Lambda Sigma. Justin is a first generation college graduate.
After college, Justin enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Law. While in law school, he interned for the District Attorney’s Offices in both Anniston and Mobile, Alabama, where he gained valuable insight into their preparation and processes when handling a criminal matter. Also, Justin worked for the University of Alabama School of Law’s Domestic Violence Clinic offering free legal aid to victims of domestic violence, and participated in the law school’s Criminal Law Society. In 2016, Justin received his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the states of Alabama and Georgia.
Practice Areas:
Criminal Law
DUIs
Family Law
Personal Injury
Probate and Estate Planning
Juvenile Dependency
Juvenile Delinquency
Adult Protective Services
Guardian Ad Litem